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Clifton Heights adopts ordinance limiting pets, restricting some fowl and banning exotics
Summary
Council voted to adopt an amendment to Chapter 98 of the borough code that sets numeric limits for household animals, establishes minimum lot-size rules for fowl and large animals, and empowers health-board enforcement; the ordinance passed on voice vote.
Clifton Heights Borough Council voted to adopt an amendment to Chapter 98 of the borough code that sets limits on household animals, creates rules for keeping fony and larger animals, and forbids certain exotic species.
The solicitor presented the ordinance as a response to a recent situation involving pigs and other animals and said the borough’s existing code contained gaps for regulating types and numbers of animals. The adopted ordinance limits the number of animals to four total (for example, four cats; four dogs; or combinations such as two cats and two dogs) for animals six months and older. It allows fowl, such as chickens, only on lots that meet a minimum size requirement (the solicitor said a coop would require about one acre and be located at least 100 feet from other structures). Large animals such as horses would be permitted only on five-acre parcels.
The ordinance also includes provisions that mirror state rules for dangerous dogs, new language on rabies vaccination and veterinarians’ duties, licensing requirements for pet shops, and a kennel-licensing pathway for entities keeping larger numbers of animals (for example, organized rescues or commercial operations). The solicitor said the borough intentionally provided a list of permitted and prohibited species and empowered the board of health to take enforcement action in problem cases.
Council member questions addressed how the ordinance would treat fostering by rescues and whether short-term litters of puppies or kittens would count toward the four-animal limit. The solicitor said the four-animal limit applies to animals six months and older; litters and temporary fostering would not automatically violate the limit so long as the animals were under six months or the foster/rescue obtained appropriate licensing.
Miss Barelli moved adoption; a council member seconded and the motion carried on a voice vote. The ordinance is now part of the borough code and will guide enforcement by the board of health.
